A NEW mental health and wellbeing tool has been launched for young people in Argyll and Bute.

The council, in collaboration with Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), has introduced a free online platform for 10 to 18-year-olds.

The platform, Kooth, is accessible from any device and provides a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

Kooth is a no-wait, no-referral service, allowing young people to seek support whenever needed.

It ensures a safe and positive environment by pre-moderating all community spaces.

Kooth offers a variety of resources and services, including a digital wellbeing magazine, interactive discussion boards for peer support, mini self-care activities, and goal-setting tools.

Young people can also directly access qualified counsellors via text-based chat.

This service is available every day of the year, with live chat support from noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10pm on weekends.

Councillor Audrey Forrest, policy lead of education, said: "We’re thrilled to introduce Kooth to support children and young people across Argyll and Bute.

"This tool provides instant access to mental health resources, helping anyone in need without waiting or travelling.

"Schools across the region are ready to help students access Kooth, but young people can also visit the platform independently at any time.

"This is just the latest initiative we are introducing to help young people thrive and feel empowered in every part of their lives.

"We want every young person to feel supported to reach their full potential and we hope Kooth provides additional support where needed."

To learn more about Kooth you can visit www.kooth.com.